Mechanical mileage recorder



1963 H. A. KRUEGER MECHANICAL MILEAGE RECORDER Filed July 3, 1961 ,Z/lw, W.

United States Patent "ice Coil Co., Incorporated, Martinsville, Ind, a corporation of Indiana Filed .luly 3, 1961, Ser. No. 121,749 Claims. (Cl. 40-68) This invention relates to digital recorders and particularly pertains to a mechanical recorder in the form of a fob for preserving for ready reference the readings of other digital recorders discrete therefrom.

Ideally, motor vehicles such as automobiles and commercial trucks are serviced at predetermined intervals measured by the distance over which the vehicle has traveled from the time when it was last serviced. A common practice after the oil changing and greasing operations have been completed is for the auto mechanic to observe the odometer reading of the vehicle being serviced and to record such reading on an adhesive back paper slip which is then applied to the left hand door frame of the vehicle.

One purpose of this practice is to remind the vehicle owner each time he enters and leaves the drivers seat via the left front door when last his vehicle was serviced. A second and more important consideration for securing the paper slip to the vehicle is to present the name and address of the service station which serviced the vehicle to the vehicle driver thereby suggesting to him that he should thereafter return to the particular service station for subsequent oil changes and grease jobs. In this manner, the service station is afforded a certain degree of advertising exposure.

It is not uncommon for a vehicle of few years of age to amass a myriad of paper slips or labels pasted on the left hand door frame. It follows then that the vehicle driver may become indifferent and oblivious to both the mileage recording and advertising message written on such slips or labels. Another consideration is that the array of labels is deemed unsightly by not a few vehicle owners who otherwise could not be considered meticulous individuals. Hence, it has been found that some vehicle owners furtively remove the unsightly slips or labels soon after the vehicle has been serviced thereby placing the interval between lubrication changes in the realm of unnecessary speculation.

In view of the foregoing, it is an important object of this invention to provide improved means for recording the mileage readings of vehicle odometers at the time of servicing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanical digital recorder in the form of a fob for a key chain on which the vehicle ignition keys are carried thereby suggesting to the vehicle owner each time he handles the keys the vehicle mileage at the time of the last servicing of the vehicle.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved mechanical recorder fob having means thereon for carrying an advertising message.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a fob and chain arrangement for recording for ready reference readings of other digital recorders and to securely maintain such readings after frequent handling of the fob.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanical recorder which is compact in form, simple and positive in operation, economical to manufacture, and which includes a prominent surface for receiving an advertising message.

Further features of this invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the mechanical recorder whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate the like parts throughout, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a mechanical recorder fob and chain arrangement made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention;

PEG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the recorder of this invention grasped by the fingers of the fob owner for manipulating the recording elements into a predetermined position;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged longitudinal sectional View of the recorder taken generally in the direction of the arrows along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a View of the recorder similar to FIG.'3 taken generally in the direction of the arrows along the line 44 in FIG. 2, certain parts of the mechanical recorder being shown in a position for selecting a new recording indication;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken generally in thedirection of the arrows along the line 55 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a recording element employed in the present invention.

There is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing a mechanical recorder generally designated by the numeral 10 made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention. The recorder 10 includes a central shaft 12 (shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4), a plurality of recording elements 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, an index member 24, and a coil spring 26.

The central shaft 12'is generally circular in transverse cross section (shown best in FIG. 5) and extends substantially the entire length of the recorder 10. An enlarged head portion 28 is integrally joined to one end of the shaft 12, the headportion 28 being substantially greater in diameter than the shaft 12 defines an annular abutment surface 30 disposed at a right angle to the axis of the shaft 12. At the end of the shaft 12 opposite the head portion 28 a cylindrical collar 32 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 12 in any suitable manner such as a press fit. A transverse aperture 34 is provided extending through the collar 32 and the shaft 12 for receiving a continuous, articulated member 36 such as a beaded key chain.

The index member 24 is hollow and generally barrellike in shape and is axially sli-dable with respect to the shaft 12 over the collar 32. More particularly, the index member 24 is provided with a circumferential wall 38 which affords a prominently exposed smooth surface for receiving lettering and the like. One end of the wall 38 is integrally joined to a transversely extending wall 40 having a central opening 42 therein for receiving the shaft 12 therethrough. The other end of the circumferential wall 38 is entirely open so as to enable the index member 28 to be moved axially over the collar 32.

The index member 24 provides a housing for enclosing the coil spring 26 mounted about the shaft 12, the spring 26 being of the compression type. The inwardly disposed end of the spring 26 engages the end wall 40 of the index member 24 and the outwardly disposed end of the spring 26 engages the collar 32 which provides an abutment surface therefor. Being that the spring 26 i s a compression spring, it follows that its natural property is to urge the index member 24- away from the collar 32. in the direction towards the head portion 28. V

The recording elements 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 are each of identical construction and arrangement and hence, for purposes of description, only the typical recording element 18 will be herein described.

Patented Nov. 5, 1963 J9 Refer-ring now to FIG. 6, the element 18 has the form of an annulus, a central opening 44 being a prominent feature thereof. The opening :4 is of such a size as to permit the recording element 18 to he axially slidable and also rotatable with respect to the central shaft 12 when operatively mounted thereon. An exposed peripheral surface 46 of the element 18 is embossed with a decade of equally spaced apart figures. The figures on the curved surface 46 being shown herein as the numerals 1, 2, 3,

through 9 and O, are only an exemplary arrangement of which there are infinite number of variations. That is to say, letters or other figures could aswell be employed on the surface 46 without departing from the function of the various elements of the instant invention.

A planar or annular surface 48 defines one face of the recording element 18 and is provided with a protuberance 59 extending outwardly therefrom. The protuberance 50 is arranged generally in alignment with the numeral 9 on the surface 46, as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the exterior surface of the end wall 40 of the index member 24 is shown as having a decade of arcuately spaced apart recesses 52 arranged therein. It is to be recognized here that a planar face of the recording element 18 opposite the face 48 (but not shown) is arranged similarly with recesses 52. It follows that when the protuberance 56 of one element is operatively received within a recess 52 of an adjacent and contiguous element, the figures on the curved surfaces of the adjacent elements will :be in alignment.

To hold the recording element 14 in a selected position with respect to the head portion 28 the abutment surface 30 thereof is provided with a protuberance 50 similar to those on the elements 14-22.

It is appreciated that detent means are provided for holding each of the recording elements l4-22 in selected predetermined positions with respect to each other as well as with respect to an index marker 54 on the exposed surface 38 of the member 24. The detent means can be described as including pairs of mating surfaces wherein one surface is provided with an array of holds or recesses 52 equally spaced along a circle and the other surface of the pair includes a peg or projection 54 so arranged as to be received in selected ones of the holes or recesses 52. It is seen that not only is each of the recording elements 14--22 provided with a planar or flat annular surface having recesses 52 therein, but the wall 40 of the index member 24 is also so equipped. Similarly, not only is each of the recording elements 1422 provided with a protuberance 50, but the abutment surface 38 on the head portion 28 is also so equipped.

The fabrication of the recorder is uncomplicated and is economical either when a large number or a few recorders 10 are produced at a time. More particularly, the individual elements of the recorder 10 may be fabricated from metals such as aluminum by conventional metal forming operations such as by casting or turning on an automatic screw machine or the like. On the other hand, plastic material such as nylon, hard rubber, or Lucite may be used as materials of construction of the recorder 10, and here it is usually desirable to mold the individual elements of the recorder.

The assembly of the recorder 10 is accomplished by first sliding the quintette of recording elements 1422 axially along the shaft 12 and next sliding against the elements 14-22 the end wall 40 of the index member 24. Thereafter the coil spring 26 is received over the shaft to be enclosed by the housing provided by the index member 24. Finally, the collar 32 is received over the end of the shaft and urged into engagement with the spring 26 wherein the spring 26 is compressed somewhat "by the collar 32. The collar 32 is held securely with respect to the shaft 12 'by means such as welding or shrinking the collar 32 over the end of the shaft 12.

It is requisite that the mechanical recorder fob 18 be of a size which fits comfortably in a persons hands and pleasant to handle. To this end the exposed surfaces of the recorder 10 are finished in a manner wherein sharp edges and irregulaiities are removed.

The marker 54 on the surface 38 of the index member 24 may be either raised from the surface 38 or depressed thereon so as to be readily discernable to indicate the reading of the recording elements. The surface 38 is expressly adapted to receive an advertising message which will be clearly readable and prominent on the recorder 10. To this end the width or axial length of the index member 24 is so proportioned to receive lettering wherein the characters may be of an easily readable size from the distance of about two feet.

. To set a reading for future reference, the recorder fob 19 is grasped by the fingers, shown best in FIG. 2, and the index member 24- is urged towards the end of the fob 10 proximate thereto, i.e., towards the key chain 36. Being moved axially against the bias of the spring 26, the index member 24 affords a gap between itself and the recording element of an axial length greater than the length of the protuberance 50 whereby the recording elements 14-22 may be easily moved out of engagement with the respectively cooperating protuberances 50 and rotated to bring the desired numeral thereon into alignment with the marker 54. When each of the five recording elements has been positioned in its desired location with respect to the other elements, the index member 24 is released by the fingers wherein the spring 26 will urge the member 24 towards the head portion 28. In this condition, the

protuberance 50 on the element 22 will project into a recess 52 on the wall 40 of the member 24.

The construction of the mechanical recorder fob l0, and specifically the detent means therein, enables a nu mcrical recording to be maintained over a substantial period without the parts becoming disassociated and the arrangement of the recording numerals changed. Furthermore, each time the numerical reading of the fob 10 is observed the advertising message provided on the surface 38 is also observed and thereby affording a degree of suggestion to the owner of the fob 10 that he should suitably respond to the advertising message.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A mechanical recorder fob for preserving numerical readings for future reference comprising: an elongated cylindrical shaft having an enlarged ring portion at one end thereof; a collar on the opposite end of said shaft and fixedly secured thereto; a plurality of juxtaposed recording elements mounted on said shaft intermediate said ring portion and said collar, each recording element being slideable axially and rotatably with respect to said shaft and having a decade of equally spaced numerals on an exposed peripheral surface thereof; a hollow, cylindrical index member on said shaft interposed axially between said recording elements and said collar, said index member having a circumferential extending, axially projecting wall extending over a portion of said collar and a diametral wall apertured to receive said shaft therethrough for sliding movements axially of said shaft and telescopically with respect to said collar, said index member inments from rotation relative to each other and in selected predetermined positions with respect to said index member.

2. A mechanical recorder fob for preserving numerical readings for future reference, comprising: an elongated cylindrical shaft having arranged thereon a first annular abutment spaced apart from a second annular abutment; a plurality of juxtaposed recording elements mounted on said shaft intermediate said abu-tments, each recording element being slideable axially and rotatably with respect to said shaft and having a decade of equally spaced numerals on an exposed, circumferential surface thereof; a hollow, cylindrical index member open at one end and having a diametral wall apertured to receive said shaft therethrough for reciprocating sliding movements axially with respect to said shaft, said open end of said index member being telescopically receivable over said first annular abutment; spring means enclosed by said index member biasing said member and said plurality of recording elements toward said second abutment; and detent means on the contiguous faces of said recording elements and said index member for holding said recording elements from rotation relative to each other and in selected predetermined positions with respect to said index member.

3. The recorder fob described in claim 2 wherein said recording elements and said index member are diametrically congruent and afford a substantially unbroken exposed peripheral surface along substantially the entire length thereof.

4. A mechanical recorder fob for preserving numerical readings for future reference comprising: a central shaft having spaced apart first and second abutments thereon; a hollow, barrel-like index member mounted on said shaft intermediate said abutments; compression spring means enclosed by said index member and said first abutment; a plurality of juxtaposed recording elements mounted on said shaft between and contiguous said index member and said second abutment; and detent means on the contiguous faces of said recording elements and said index member for holding said recording elements from rotation relative to each other and in selected predetermined positions with respect to said index member, said index member being axially retractable against the bias of said spring means to disengage said detent means for changing the angular relationships between the respective record elements and said index member, said spring means reacting against said first abutment and said index member to urge said recording elements toward said second abutment and into closed, juxtaposed contact. r

5. A mechanical recorder fob for preserving numerical readings for future reference comprising: a central shaft having spaced apart first and second annular abutments thereon; a hollow barrel-like index member mounted on said shaft intermediate said abutments; compression spring means enclosed by said index member and said first abutment; a plurality of juxtaposed recording elements mounted on said shaft between and contiguous said index member and said second abutment, each recording element being slideable axially and angularly with respect to said shaft and having a decade of equally spaced figures on an exposed circumferential surface thereof; and detent means on the contiguous faces of said recording elements and said index member for holding said recording elements from rotation relative to each other and in selected predetermined positions with respect to said index member, said index member being axially retractable against the bias of said spring means telescopically over said first abutment to disengage said detent means for changing the angular relationships between the respective recording elements and said index member, said spring means reacting against said first abutment and said index member to urge said recording elements towards said second abutment and into juxtaposed contact for re-engagement of said detent means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,421,070 Diechmann June 27, 1922 2,421,513 Lofstrom June 3, 1947 2,785,488 Brooks Mar. 19, 1957 2,976,630 Montfort Mar. 28, 1961 

1. A MECHANICAL RECORDER FOB FOR PRESERVING NUMERICAL READINGS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL SHAFT HAVING AN ENLARGED RING PORTION AT ONE END THEREOF; A COLLAR ON THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID SHAFT AND FIXEDLY SECURED THERETO; A PLURALITY OF JUXTAPOSED RECORDING ELEMENTS MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT INTERMEDIATE SAID RING PORTION AND SAID COLLAR, EACH RECORDING ELEMENT BEING SLIDEABLE AXIALLY AND ROTATABLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID SHAFT AND HAVING A DECADE OF EQUALLY SPACED NUMERALS ON AN EXPOSED PERIPHERAL SURFACE THEREOF; A HOLLOW, CYLINDRICAL INDEX MEMBER ON SAID SHAFT INTERPOSED AXIALLY BETWEEN SAID RECORDING ELEMENTS AND SAID COLLAR, SAID INDEX MEMBER HAVING A CIRCUMFERENTIAL EXTENDING, AXIALLY PROJECTING WALL EXTENDING OVER A PORTION OF SAID COLLAR AND A DIAMETRAL WALL APERTURED TO RECEIVE SAID SHAFT THERETHROUGH FOR SLIDING MOVEMENTS AXIALLY OF SAID SHAFT AND TELESCOPICALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID COLLAR, SAID INDEX MEMBER INCLUDING AN EXPOSED PERIPHERAL SURFACE HAVING ARRANGED THEREON AN INDICATING MARKER ORIENTED TOWARD SAID RECORDING ELEMENTS, THE AREA OF SAID EXPOSED SURFACE BEING SELECTED IN SIZE TO ACCOMMODATE AN ADVERTISING MESSAGE THEREON; SPRING MEANS ENCLOSED BY SAID INDEX MEMBER AND BIASING SAID MEMBER AND SAID RECORDING ELEMENTS TOWARD SAID RING PORTION; AND DETENT MEANS ON THE CONTIGUOUS FACES OF SAID RECORDING ELEMENTS AND THE DIAMETRAL WALL OF SAID INDEX MARKER FOR HOLDING SAID RECORDING ELEMENTS FROM ROTATION RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND IN SELECTED PREDETERMINED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID INDEX MEMBER. 